Star Valley Council Happy With Mcdaniel's Decision To Return

The Town of Star Valley now has a town manager in place, but on a temporary basis.

The Star Valley Council Tuesday night appointed Diane McDaniel as the interim manager until the town hires one on a permanent basis to replace Lanny Sloan.

McDaniel, who previously was the town clerk/manager, will earn $34/hour with no benefits and will be a contract employee. Her hours are not to exceed 40 hours per week.

Vice Mayor Randy White said he thinks appointing McDaniel to the position is the ideal choice.

"I would say because of Diane's past performance, I would think it would be a good idea," White said.

The council came to the $34/hour figure by dividing the remaining nine months salary that is in the budget for a town manager into an hourly wage.

Mayor Chuck Heron said she would become the interim manager immediately and remain in the position until the council hires a permanent one.

Councilor Bill Rappaport said the move to appoint McDaniel to the position was a logical one.

"I would like to say I do not think we could have made a better choice than Diane," he said.

The town sent the League of Arizona Cities and Towns eight to 10 resumes for the permanent position, and the League will narrow the list down to the finalists, Heron said.

The Star Valley Council also discussed how to proceed with its master plan.

At a Sept. 26 meeting, the Central Association of Governments made a presentation to the town on how it would proceed with the master plan if the council were to choose them to create the document.

Councilor Bill Heath said he thinks the council should hear presentations from the other two applicants who made proposals.

"We should give others the opportunity to (tell us) their qualifications," he said. "It seems to me that when you get people to respond, you give them a hearing."

White said whoever is selected to create the master plan should know from the town and public what direction the town wants to proceed. When he collected signatures to run for the council, residents told him they wanted the town to remain the same.

CAAG, in its presentation, stated they would take direction from the town and council.

The council plans to listen to proposals from the other two applicants at a town hall meeting later this month.